Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) is thought to promote coronary artery disease via a number of mechanisms: abnormal lipid profiles, endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, insulin resistance and renal impairment are the main pathological mechanisms driving atherosclerosis as a consequence of cART. An association between protease inhibitors and increased cardiovascular disease risk has been shown in many large cohort trials. CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA) is now widely used to assess for the presence of atherosclerosis, typically in patients presenting with chest pain. This imaging technique allows visualisation of the coronary arteries and quantification of any atherosclerotic disease that may be present. This technique is being increasingly used as a surrogate for cardiovascular disease risk. HART CT is an open label, prospective, randomised-control pilot study to investigate the feasibility of performing a future appropriately powered multi-centred randomised control trial using CT based outcome data as a surrogate for cardiovascular disease risk. Participants will be randomised to either continue their usual cART or switch to Biktarvy (a fixed dose combination of bictegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide). A baseline CT scan will be performed. If there is any evidence of atherosclerosis a further CT scan will be performed at the end of the study (approximately 48 weeks). This will allow quantification of any change in coronary artery plaque burden or characteristic. Participants will be also followed up for any changes in metabolic health.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Fixed dose combination preparation containing bictegravir, tenofovir alafenamide and emtricitabine
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Liverpool, United Kingdom
The rate of recruitment to the HART CT study
Rate of recruitment to the main study expressed as a rate of eligible patients screened to those who undergo randomisation.
Time frame: 2 years
Drop out rate
Drop out rate of the main study. The number of participants not completing the study expressed as a percentage of those recruited.
Time frame: 2 years
Change in total plaque volume (mm3) including the following derivatives: total non-calcified plaque volume (mm3), calcium volume (mm3). These derivatives will be combined to give a total plaque volume (mm3).
CT based quantification of coronary artery disease burden. Assessed using summary statistics and parametric or non-parametric measures of significance.
Time frame: 2 years
Change in Agatston Score (Agatston units).
Agatston calcium scoring is a highly reproducible well validated scale outlining the burden of calcific coronary artery disease. Agatston score is a function of calcium volume and density. The volume is calculated in mm3 and multiplied by a density weighting factor depending on the haunsfied units. Change in Agatston scores will be assessed using summary statistics and parametric or non-parametric measures of significance.
Time frame: 2 years
Change in segmental stenosis score
Coronary segments are graded as normal (no stenosis), stenosis 1%-29%, 30%-49%, 50%-69%, ≥70% by visual semiquantification method, with assignment of scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, respectively. Stenosis is not measured when the vessel diameter was \<2 mm. Total segment stenosis score (TSS) per person is calculated by summing all the 15 individual SSSs with a possible score ranging from 0 to 60. Change in segmental stenosis scores will be assessed using summary statistics and parametric or non-parametric measures of significance.
Time frame: 2 years
Number of adverse plaque features
The change in the number of coronary segments displaying an adverse plaque characterisitc. This is defined as any one of the following (low attenuation plaque (\<30 hounsfield units), positive remodelling (remodelling index \>1.1), spotty calcification or napkin ring sign). Change in number of adverse plaque features will be assessed using summary statistics and parametric or non-parametric measures of significance.
Time frame: 2 years
Inter and intraobserver variability of CT based outcome measures
To assess the inter and intraobserver variability of total plaque volume (mm3). This will be assessed for the first 20 vessels containing evidence of coronary artery disease between the two study reporters. The mean difference (%) will be reported.
Time frame: 2 years
The incidence of subclinical cardiovascular disease in the study population
Expressed as percentage of recruited patients.
Time frame: 2 years
The change in in 10-year cardiovascular disease risk between the control group and intervention group using both prediction models.
Summary statistics (mean) assessment of the change in 10 year cardiovascular disease risk as assessed by QRISK and ASTROCHARM risk prediction models. The 10 year cardiovascular risk will be reported as %. The intervention group and control group compared using parametric or non-parametric measures of significance.
Time frame: 2 years
Change in total cholesterol (mmol/L) including the derivatives (which are combined to give the total cholesterol) high-density lipoprotein (mmol/L), low-density lipoprotein (mmol/L) and non-high-density lipoprotein (mmol/L).
Intervention group and control group compared using parametric or non-parametric measures of significance. The range of cholesterol is 0-20 mmol/L
Time frame: 2 years
Fibroscore (Kilopascals)
Change from baseline to end fibroscan score. Intervention group and control group compared using parametric or non-parametric measures of significance. The range of KPa is 0-75.
Time frame: 2 years
Change in HBA1C (mmol/mol)
Intervention group and control group compared using parametric or non-parametric measures of significance. The range of HBA1C is 0-150mmol/mol.
Time frame: 2 years
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